Almost half of drivers struggle to get their heads around in-car tech

Almost half of drivers struggle to get their heads around in-car tech, according to a study.

Research revealed that despite motoring tech enabling us to find routes at the touch of a button, chat to friends and family hands-free and brake without touching the pedal, a large percentage are baffled by the amount of buttons and switches.

Many admit to being clueless about how to enable ‘sports mode’ or ‘cruise control,’ while others have trouble operating self-parking.

And over 50 per cent have no idea how to use ‘lane keep assist’, turn on ‘motorway speed alerts’ or even utilise ‘seat memory settings’.

The study of 1,000 motorists who have bought a new car in the last three years shows over half of London drivers felt they were wasting a lot of the technology their car had to offer

And 22 per cent of Northern Irish and Welsh motorists admit to not being able to live without heated seats.

Matt Wrigley of Jardine Motors Group, which carried out the study said: “Technology strongly influences our choice in a new car, even if we are not entirely sure how it assists our driving.

”Many of us are seduced by it at the point of sale, but forget to figure out how to use them in the excitement of driving away in our new motor.

“This is why, in addition to providing our customers with a full tour of their new car and its features, we also have a range of specialists on hand to answer our customers’ questions at any time.”

Researchers discovered 32 per cent of new car owners are flummoxed about how to operate the in-car sat nav, whilst four in 10 are clueless about their reverse sensors, climate control and heated seats.

The study also revealed a significant number of motorists are not making the most of their multimedia settings, with 15 per cent unable to work their digital radio set up and 28 per cent having no idea how to operate their car’s Bluetooth.

More than half of those polled said their car is full of buttons and switches they don’t know how to use or what they’re for – and 49 per cent believe they are wasting a lot of what their car has to offer.

A further 58 per cent have frequently pressed the wrong button or selected the wrong function when trying to do something technical.

Of the 1,000 motorists polled, many admit they don’t understand how to use the in-car Bluetooth, with one motorist confessing to accidentally calling their manager whilst talking to their passenger about how attractive they found the boss.

Rather than read the manual, it comes as no surprise that the nation’s motorists at some point or another enlist the help of their partner.

Four in 10 admit getting help from a spouse to adjust a headlight or set up the Bluetooth.

Shockingly, more than a third have never opened their owner’s manual to try and learn how to operate the car properly.

A further 36 per cent even revealed they have had to heed advice from their children on how to work the gadgets in their new car.

Of the motorists surveyed, 71 per cent of over 55s felt it only took them 0-6 months to get to grips with the main technical features in modern cars.

Meanwhile, only 51 per cent of 18-24 year olds felt comfortable within the same timeframe.

Additionally, 23 per cent of motorists from the North West admit to never getting to grips with their new modern cars.

However, despite certain confusion around current advances in driving technology, the study by Jardine Motors Group found it was not all doom and gloom for in-car tech.

Eight in 10 new car owners admitted the technology and gadgetry of a car DOES influence their decision on whether to buy it.

Meanwhile, 76 per cent said they would probably buy a car that had more in-car functions than they actually need.

Matt Wrigley added: “In-car technology has come on such leaps and bounds in a short amount of time.

”From improving the overall safety of drivers and passengers, to bringing an added layer of excitement of being behind the wheel.”

In fact, a large number of those surveyed commented on how valuable and irreplaceable certain gadgets are in assisting and simplifying their driving.

Some even spoke of how it made life behind the wheel less stressful and more enjoyable.